Eight members who travelled to partake in the St. Patrick's day New York Parade have returned after a very successful trip. Highlights of the trip included a wreath laying ceremoney at Ground Zero, FDNY Firefigher 2 fireboat, meeting An Taoiseach at the consulate office, marching in the St Patrick's parade, visit to FBI NY field office and a day with USCG New York Sector boat base.

The Facebook page along with lots of images is here. More images are being added. Thanks to all that made this trip a success.

At 5am this morning (Friday 7th) the Gardai requested the assistance of the Irish Coast Guard at Clontarf Seafront. The Coast Guard team at Howth station were tasked along with Dublin Fire Brigade. Coast Guard and Fire Services were quickly on scene and a casualty was taken away to hospital by ambulance.
 
Incident 10/14

Three months ago an Irish Coast Guard cargo of boxes left the Coast Guard station in Howth for the Philippines. The boxes mostly contained children's clothes donated by Irish people and were destined to one of the islands hit by the Typhoon, the island was Panay Island and the area was Ajuy in the north east.

We decided to keep the costs of the freight down and after a terrific response from all over Dublin and we wanted to ensure as many boxes as possible could get delivered; so alas the boxes got sent the long journey by sea.

The cargo was delivered to the one house in the area that had lost its roof but had its walls still standing, there today 15 families still live. Pictured are some of the 200 people from two communities that were invited to the house, bags of clothes were packed for each family and distributed.

This was a small effort in the big scheme of what was needed but we’ve been asked to give a big thanks from the community of Ajuy to the Irish people for their response, digging deep when they needed help most. We wish the people in the Philippines the very best in the mammoth task of trying to get their lives back to normality.